Sewage disposal apparatus



April 24, 1934.

M. B. TARK SEWA/GE DISPOSAL" APPARATUS Original F1164 MaI ch 22. 1927 v,s Sheets-Sheet 2 may April 24, 1934. M. TARK SEWAGE DISPOSAL APPARATUSOriginal Filed March 22. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet v 3 :Reissued Apr. 24, 193419.14;: snwson DISPOSAL APPARATUS Marcus B. Tark, Philadelphia, Pa.,assignor to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of .lllinoisOriginal No. 1,763,412, dated June 10, 1930, Serial No. 177,372, March22, 1927. Application for reissue April 23, 1931, Serial No. 532,381

14 as. (c1. 210-3) This invention relates to improvements in sewagedisposal apparatus, and has for its principal object the provision ofnovel and highly advantageous means for removing the precipitated sludgefrom the sedimentation'ta'nks and accumulations from analogousoperations.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in removingprecipitated sludge accumulating in the bottoms of tanks constituting apart of sewage disposal systems, and the present invention contemplatesthe provision inthe tanks of mechanical means for collecting the sludgein suitable chambers or hoppers from which it may be removed by gravityor by means of a pump or other conveyer.

The invention further comprehends certain novel structural features ofthe mechanical sludge-collecting means and of the tanks in which theyoperate, whereby the operation of the said Fi 1; Fig. 3 is a transversesection on the line 33,

Fig. 1; k

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement showing the efliuentendof the tank and illustrating detailsof the mechanical collector;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the flights forming a partof the collector;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modification inthe construction of the collector;

Fig. illustrating -details of the collector construction shown in Fig.6; h Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the flight shown in Fig.7; v

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6, illustrating a still furthermodification of the col- 'necting with the channel 6.

collecting means and the apparatus as a whole stitute the sump in whichthe sludge is collected Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line2-2,

v the tank. A large part of the suspended solids in 7 is an' endelevation of one or the flights" Fig. 11 is a fragmentary frontelevation of the flight shownin Fig. 10. r

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus illus-* trated comprises a main.tank 1 having four independent longitudinal sludge chambers, 2, 3, 6a 4and 5, respectively. Sewage is fed to these chambers from a commoninfluent channel 6 and through independent branch channels 7 con- Thesludge-free liquid is collected and drawn 011 from the various chambersthrough a commonneffluent channel 8 v at the opposite end of the tankstructure from the infiuent channel 6. In that the individual chambersand the associated. apparatus are. identical, further description willbeconfined for the sake of brevity to a single chamber.

The tank chamber, the length of which preferably is from three to fivetimes its width, has at its influent end one or more hoppers 9 extendingbelow the floor level of the major portion of the tank, the hoppers inthe present instance numbering two and being separated by a wall 10tapered at the top and with its upper edge substantially on a line withthe floor level of the major portion of the tank. The hoppers 9, 9conin' a 'manner hereinafter described and from which it maybedra'wnthrough pipes 11 extendingtothe bottom of the-hoppers, asillustrated,

- and connected through the wall of the tank with a pipe line 12extending to suitable pumping apparatus (not shown). p

The sewage is admitted to the tanks from the. channels 7 throughsubmerged pipes 13, there being two of these pipes for each chamber, inthepresent'instance', located respectively above the hoppers 9,-as shownin Fig. 3. The pipes '13 discharge horizontally, indicated in Fig. 2, sothat the influent substance is projected against the wall of the liquidentering the tank settles immediately into the hoppers 9, the remainderbeing carried towards the efliuent end and settling out to the bottom ofthe major portion of the-tank, leaving a clear liquid eventually whichdischarges over a weir 14 into the eflluent channel 8 at the oppositeend or the tank. The weir preferably is vertically adjustable. V

In order to eliminate the sludge which collects in the bottom of thetank, I provide a submerged sludge collector mechanism, whichconsists ina preferred form of two endless strands of chain 15 and 16 whichoperateupon a series of sprockets 1'7, as shown in Fig. 2., Thesesprockets are carried respectively upon a head shaft 18, a foot shaft19, and upper and lower turn shafts 20 and 21- respectively. The shaft18 is connected through a chain 22 with a countershaft 23, and thiscountershaft is connected by suitable gearing with a motor 24 whichconstitutes the prime mover for the chains 15 and 16. The chains areconnected at'predetermined intervals with cross pieces or flights '25which project from the outer sides of the chains, and the foot shaft 19and turn shaft 21 are so mounted in the tank that these flights wipe thebottom of the tank, as clearly illustrated. The flights 25 may be madeof any suitable material such as steel or wood.

In the top of the tank are mounted rails 26, these being supported inthe present instance on transverse beams'2'7, these rails being adaptedto support and guide'the upper run of the chains at a predeterminedlevel in the tank. This level corresponds closely to the normal liquidlevel so that the flights 25 are only partially submerged in the top runof the chains. The chains moved in the direction iiidicated bythe'arrows in Fig. 2, and in the lower run ofthe chains, the flights 25function to sweep the precipitated sludge from the tank into the sump.In the arrangement described, the flights 25 are utilized in the upperor return run'ofthe chains to collect the scum, grease and oil at thesurface of the liquid, and to carry it into a scum trough 28at theeflluent end of' the'tank, the scum being conducted away or withdrawnfrom the trough in suitablemanner.

It is essential that all of the settled sludge be removed from the tank,and as it is diflicult to fluish concrete to give accurately smoothsurfaces, I provide means in the collectors to compensate for unevennessin the masonry and to compensate also for wear in the flights'orscrapers. This means I have illustrated in Figs. 4 to 11, inclucontactwith the surface of the tank at the top of this curved corner. Thisprevents accumulations sive. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5,the flights are carried by arms 29 which are pivotally secured to thecarrying links 30 of the chains. With this arrangement, when the flighttravels over the upper turn shaft 20, it drops forward until it comesinto contact with the bottom wall of the tank. Inorder to make theaction of 'the flights embrasiveof th entire length of the tank, thecomer'where the bottom ofthe tank joins the front wall is rounded out,as indicated at 81, and as shown in Fig 4, thejcurve 31 is so related tothe shaft 19 thatthe flight comes into at the comer which would preventa thorough cleaning action of the flights and which might tend to clogthe apparatus. 7

In the embodiment shown: in-ligs. 4 and 5, the arm 29 is providedwith astop'32 which by en- 88861116111; of the 30- positively limits thedownward movement. of the flight and prevents Another em nt of thedevice is shown in ml, 7 and 8. In this instancethe flight 25 is mountedin abrac'ket 33 secured to the carrying link 3, Also pivoted on thelink. 34 is a lever 35, one arm'of which is weighted at 36,

whiletheotherarmii'lengages the inneredge lever 35 fimctions during thedownward,

of the flight. Thearrangementissuchthatwhen the flight passes over theshaft 20, the arm 37 is broughtbytheacflonofthew shtflllaimttheianeredseoi'theflight ztandtendstoforcethe' outwardly on the supportingbracket 33.

v oftheflightamund'tbecurvedcomer SL-hut Y er'tlielightJi ldmsflinflyinoontsct to carry the entire mass diningthemaiorwrinnoftherearwardwith the bottom of the tank by its own weight.

A'somewhat similar arrangement is shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11. In thisinstance also, the flight 25 is slidably mounted on an arm 38 on thecarrying link 39, but a spring 40 replaces the weighted arm 35 andfunctions after the manner of said weight to resiliently hold the flightin an extended position on the brackets 38.

In each of the aforesaid devices, it will be noted that the flightresiliently or flexibly engages the surface of the tank wherebyirregularities and unevenness in the said surface are fully compensated.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted. that at the inner edge of thehopper 9, overhanging rails-"41 are provided which form an extension ofthe track in the bottom of the main portion of the tank. projecting overthe forward edges of the hopper and bey nd the centre line of the lowerturn shaft. These overhanging tracks prevent a sudden drop of thepivoted flights. Such a. drop will agitate the settled solids and causea portion of them to so again intp suspension.

It will be obvious modification in the detailstructure of the tanks andof the collector apparatus without departure from the essential featuresof the invention.

I claim: I

1. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins thesaid wall a rounded corner, ofsludge-removing means at the opposite endof the tank, an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flights adaptedto sweep the accumulated sludge, in the bottomofthetanktosaidremovingmeanaandmeans affording free movement of theflights away from the conveyer and into engagement with the roundedcorner and the bottom of the tank to thereby .eifect a substantiallycomplete removal of said sludge from thetank.

2. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhavinga depressed hopper'at one end and having the lowertransversecorner at the opposite end where the, end wall'meets thebottom of the rounded subthat there may be much stantially on the arcofa circle, a sludge collector in said tank including a pair oftransverse shafts,

and an endless conveyer operating on said shafts, the shaft adjacent therounded end of the tank being arranged concentrically with the aforesaidrounded transverse corner, and flights carried by" I 'saidconvey'er andadapted to sweep the said rounded comer and'thebottom of the tank so asof accumulated sludge toward and into the said hopper.

3. In a sewage disposal apparatus, the com tially vertical end wall andwhere the bottom joins the said wall a rounded corner, the side walls ofsaidtank and said end wall being formed 'bination with a settling tank'having assubstan with upwardly extending surfaces confining the entiremassofaccumulated sludge, of sludge-. removing means at the end of thetank opposite said rounded comer, an endless conveyer having rigidtransverse flights to sweep the entire-mass of sludge in the bottom.

of the tank to said and means ailording free movement of the flightsaway from the conveyer and into engagement'with'the said rounded cornerand the bottom 'of'the tank t meet a comp t ova f the said sludge fromthe tank.

.4. In a" sewage d sposal the coniblnation with a tank having asubstantank tothereby effect a substantially complete removal of saidsludge from the tank and to maintain said cooperative engagement afterwear in the flights occursa 5. In sewage disposal apparatus, thecombination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical endwall and where the bottom joins said walla rounded corner, of sludgeremoving means at the opposite end of the tank, an endless conveyerhaving rigid transverse flights adapted to sweep the accumulated sludgein the bottom of the tank to said removing means, arms secured to saidconveyer for supporting said flights, and means affording free movementofthe flights away from the conveyer and into engagement with the saidrounded'corner and the bottom' of the tank to thereby effect asubstantially com-- plete removal of the said sludge from the tank.

6. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joinssaidv wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at the oppositeend of the tank,;an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flightsadapted to sweep the accumulated sludge in the bottom of the, tank tosaid removing means, and arm supporting said flights and'pivotallyattached to the h conveyer whereby the flights are freely movable bygravity into engagement with the said rounded corner and the bottom ofthe tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removal of saidsludge from the tank.

7. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a-settling, tankhaving the corner at one end where the'bottom. joins the end wallrounded and having at theotherend a depressed hopper, of an endlessconveyer extending from one end of the tank to the other, flightsmounted on said conveyer upon axes transverse to the tank, and meansaffording free movement of said flights into engagement with the bottomof the tank, said conveyer being so mounted that said flights areadapted to engage the end wall of the tank above said rounded corner andto sweep over the latter in a downward movement whereby they areeffective tosweep the settled sludge from the rounded corner and fromthe entire bottom suri ace of the tank into the hopper.

8. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving the corner at one end where .the bottom joins the end wallrounded and having at the otherend a depressed hopper, of an endlessconveyer extending from one end of the tank to the other and havingflights pivotally mounted thereon on axes transverse to the tank andadapted to move around said pivots in the lower run of the conveyer toengage the bottom of the tank, said conveyer being so mounted that saidflightsare adapted to engage the end wall of the tank above said roundedcorner and to sweep over the latter in a downward movement whereby theyare effective to sweep the entire mass of settled sludge iromv 9. Insewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having asubstantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said walla rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at the opposite end of thetank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, arms pivotally securedto said conveyer, flights carried by said arms and adapted to contactwith said rounded corner and the bottom-of the tank to thereby effect asubstantially complete removal of said sludge from said tank and to thesludgeremoving means, said arms extending rearwardly with respect to thedirection of movement of said conveyer and forming an acute angle withthe latter, and means associated with said arms for maintaining an acuteangle while permitting a' predetermined angular movement of the armswith respect to .the conveyer.

10. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving asubstantially vertical end wall and where thebottom joins thesaid wall a rounded corner, sludge removing means at the opposite end ofthe tank, an end- ,less conveyer operating in said tank, arms pivotallysecured to said conveyer, flights carried by said arms and adapted tocontact with the said .the 'bottom surface of thetank into the hopper.

rounded corner and the bottom of the tank to thereby effect asubstantially complete removal of said sludge from said tank and to thesludgeremoving means, and shoulders on said arms adapted to engageportions of the conveyer to limit the swinging movement of said armswith respect to the conveyer.

11. In sewage disposal apparatus, thecombination with a settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins thesaid side wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at theoppositeend of the tank, an endlessconveyer operating in said tank, armsprojecting from said conveyer; flights slidably secured to said armspermitting adjustment thereof to and from the conveyer, said flightsadapted to contact with the said rounded corner and the bottom of the,tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removalof said sludgefrom said tank and to the sludge-removing means, and means; carried bythe conveyer and acting on said flights f maintain th siliently in anextended ionrelativ to said arms. i ,1

12. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins thesaid end wall a rounded corner, oi sludge-removing means at the oppositeend of'the tank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, armsprojecting from said conveyer, flights slidably secured to said armspermitting adjustment thereofto and from the, conveyen said flightsadapted to contact with the said rounded corner and the bottom of thetank tothereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludgefrom said tank and to the sludge-removing means, and gravity actuatedmeans carried by the conveyer and acting on said flights to main-. tainthem resiliently in an extendedv position relative to the conveyer.

13. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and wherethebottom joins thesaid end wall a rounded corner, of sludge removing means at the oppositeend of the tank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, armsprojecting from said conveyer, flights flights adapted to contact withthe said rounded corner and'the bottom of the tank to thereby efiect asubstantially wmplete removal of said sludge from sai'd'tank'and to thesludgeerem'oving means, and weighted levers pivotally mounted on theconveyer and operatively engaging said flights to maintain them in anextended position.

relative to the conveyor,

14. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a, settling tankhaving a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins thesaid end wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removslidably secured to saidarms permitting adjustment thereof to and from the conveyer, said ingmeans at the opposite end of the tank, an

endless conveyer operating in said tank, aims projecting from saideonveyer, flights slidably secured to said arms permitting adjustmentthereof to and from the conveyer, said flights adapted to contact withthe said rounded comer and the bottom of the tank to thereby effect asubsantially complete removal of "said sludge from said tank and to thesludge removing means, and springs operative on the flights to anextended position relative maintain them in tothe conveyer.

i MARCUS B. TARK.

